Edited




scales-of-justice1.jpg


[[#|Educational]] Philosophy
Jaimi Stapf
My educational philosophy is one of inclusion and accessibility. I believe that everyone has the right to learn and that every accommodation should be made to allow for the best learning environment for every student. I also believe that for a student to be able to learn to the best of their abilities they need to be given the proper tools and instruction on how to use these tools I believe these tools to be the building blocks of success. These building blocks for success are weighted in importance but vary from student to student. It is the educators’ responsibility to provide the student with the tools for success. The educator must work out a balance of what is needed and what is provided for the student to succeed. It is because of this balance that I have decided to make my graphic the scales. The educator must be the backbone of the [[#|support system]] for the student which allows for the best environment for the student to succeed in with the ongoing development of the curriculum and the student themselves.



Support

The basis to any education is a good foundation to build from. Success is not possible without support, in school and out. Unfortunately some students do not have the proper support system in place outside of school so it is necessary to build and strengthen the in school system so that no matter what the system outside of school when they are at school it is consistent and reliable. Support does not stop with the student the educator needs support to be a successful educator you need to be open and adaptive to new ideas and processes to be able to


Assessment- As an educator you should be able to vary your assessment of knowledge comprehension to reflect your demographics within your classroom. You will need to provide options for assessing knowledge, varying the task you will be able to engage and challenge your students.

Development

To be able to grow as a student as well as an educator you need to be able to grow within your subject matter. Your Zone of Proximal Development will be fluid and ever changing. Those who make the accommodations to the needs of their students provide the best ground work for successful learners.

Best Practices Sharing- When learning as a community it is helpful to open the floor to different viewpoints. Allowing students to express how they attack a problem or a learning set allows other students who may have struggled with comprehension see another point of attack. In turn the student that is sharing his or her best practice is also cementing their comprehension of the task. Best practices are not limited to the students; educators should share helpful and productive processes with each other.


Creative Curriculum- There is standards within every discipline, points and skills that are required to achieve a certain level of mastery. It is the educator’s responsibility to make the lessons engaging and memorable. By doing this it will encourage participation and retention of the [[#|information]]. I believe it is easier to learn when you can find the connections within lessons. When you can link one lesson into another it allows you to increase mastery in the first lesson while linking it and solidifying the new lesson

Setting Goals- Everyone should have goals: the educator, the student, the school. The key to goals is getting everyone on the same page with the desired outcome. When all are dedicated to the same task success is the only option and no one is left without direction.

Environment

The environment in which a student learns needs to be structured in a way that allows the student to be free to express themselves, their concerns and their successes. By creating this comfortable environment you allow the student to focus on their education and put aside for a small fragment of time any outside stressors. When this happens you allow the students to assume an assertive role in their educational process.


Unique Learning Styles- It is the educator’s responsibility to identify and accommodate the learning styles and abilities of their students. There needs to be choices and lesson differentiation to accommodate all students and their learning needs.


Classroom management-



I think you have combined general categories with specific categories. Where is a category about the teaching/learning process? Acquiring information, assessment, planning, etc.
Setting goals is something that is a detail to be put into a larger category. Why do we need to be clear about outcomes?
Honoring a student's learning styles is also specific. It could fit under a category of engaging classroom or planning?
The E could stand for Environment. A safe environment might encourage expression. Do you see how one is a category and another is a part of that category?
Cohesive Learning is a bit abstract, however, the word connections is more concrete. This category is a bit specific. How might you make it more general? Making connections is one thing a [[#|teacher]] can do to engage the learners and to help them remember the content. These are two larger categories that this item can be classified under.
Learning Community is a broad concept which would make a good category. Sharing best practices is one thing educators can do within the learning community.
Support is a reasonable category. It will be interesting to see what content from our course fits into this category.